Dry spell in Cebu soon: Save water - PAGASA

CEBU, Philippines - The weather bureau has reminded the public again to conserve water as Cebu will experience dry spell before the year ends due to the prevailing El Niño phenomenon.

During the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) meeting yesterday, Pagasa-Cebu officer-in-charge Alfredo Quiblat Jr. reported that the phenomenon continues to intensify and will last until the second quarter of next year.

“The sea surface temperature is now 2.4 degree Celsius. It has increased to .1 degree from September 2015… The previous advisory of Pagasa said El Niño will last early next year, but the new advisory said second quarter next year,” he said.

He noted that Cebu is still experiencing below normal rainfall with 60 percent reduction from the normal level, adding that such condition will continue until December this year and will become worse until May next year.

“Next year, (rainfall) will be below normal and will last in May. We will experience normal condition hopefully in June (next year),” said Quiblat.

Based on the assessment of Pagasa as of September this year, Cebu is not included yet on the list of provinces experiencing insufficient amount of rainfall.

Pagasa projected that the prevailing El Niño, if continues to gain strength, will likely become the strongest one recorded in global history.

Quiblat reported that since 1950, the highest sea surface temperature recorded was only 2.4 degree Celsius when El Niño struck in 1997.

With this, the Capitol is contemplating on extending the declaration of state calamity, which will end next month, in order to extend assistance to the affected areas. — (FREEMAN)